Athletic apparatus



May 24, 1949.

R. W. W. HARVEY ATHLETIC APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1o, 1.94.3

V-c d. MQW@ Patented May 24, d1949 ATHLETIC APPARATUS.

Roosevelt WirWl'H'arvey, Somerville, Massi .ApplieationMarhJa 19213,- sjeriaiN0., 14,-i0g,

fs-claims.. (cleave-e849 This invention relates .to athletic apparatus.

Thefinvention has for an objectto provide noveland' improvedfathletic apparatus for u's with" maximum safetyfn training for lifting a weight'snch as ay bar bell;

With' this-objectinview andv such'jjothersl as may hereinafter appear, the inventionconsists in the 'athletic apparatus hereinafter described 'andparticularlyvdenedjin the claims at the end of this speciicaticn.

inthe drawingvsrilflustratingthe preferred einbbdiment vofthe invention, Fig. 1A `is a front 'ele'- vation ofathletic apparatusfembodyingthe pres ent invention; Fig, 2"-is an invertedllanvvieiv detail-*offene o'fjthe base members embodied in theapparatus. showninFig. 1*; Fig. 3-is a plan vview; ldetailcf a detachable vs'feigl'it employed in tliepresent apparatus; Figs. 4'and5are cross sectifnalviews in side` and plan elevations respectively'` ofE lockingV mechanism for adjustably "securing-av bar Abellatdiferentlei/els on its supportingstructure;L Fig. 'Gils a detail view of-a clamping collar; Fig. 7 vis-a side elevationof'the Bar bellremoved-from the apparatus permitting its-'use in the'conventional manner; lig.Y 8isa side-elevation of apadarranged to be detachabjlyf` secured to the bar belljrod; Fig. 9 is a detailyvi'etv of 'a' lockingmember forming a part; of thet detachable-pad; and-Fig. 10"is a side elevation of the-locliing member shown in Fig. 9'.

In'ygeneral; the present invention contemplates an-exercisingdevice particularly adapted-fer use 'intrai'ning'in lifting` a bar bell. In lifting the 'ordinary orregulation'bar bell-comprising a bar having:v detachable andi interchangeable discsnjor weights lsupported at the end'sthereofv there is anzelement of danger, particularl-yior a'novice; in' that; the-barxbellmay get out of controlvof the athlete,- andi-bdropped fromanelevated position, andinmany'A4 instances: serious injuries havere suited;

Iii accordanceV with one feature of the present invention, inthe-present apparatus-thefbar-bell may-bef adjustably supported-1 at different levels upon. spacedvertical rodshavingbasemembers normally.AA restirig onthe floor and-` which arefai 'ranafield-113): support the detachable-Weights. Init/lili use ofI the-.-training apparatus; theba-r may be iitiallyadjustedz at. a desired. level and the .en-tire unit.' including: the supporting rods andI the Weights may be: lifted bodilyv fromy the eor. Thus; inthe'eventL theu'ser. should accidentally slip andfall when. the` apparatus is lifted; the

weightedends. of the fallingn unit will come to on the flooi.- andi the bar: will: be.. maintained 2 in its initially elevated position thus avoiding ai'iy danger ofI the Weighted bar 'pinning the vusverjto the floor.

The p'resenzt apparatus, enables the athlete 'to practice 'a particularl portionor an intermediate stage vo1 `VAa vWeigyljrt lift WithoutA having `to linitially raise the bar bell from thetfloor to such an 'ini termediate position. VFcr example one of- :the basic liftsjperformed'with a bar bellcomprises a two. handL Press which is Aaccumpli`Shed"fljflr stages; first' lifting` the bar from the floor to standingposition ending up with the armsy "egg te. dedidownwaldly at, DhISdes Eromthisr .the bar.v is lifted@ ,Chestlevet .this moi/.em beine accomplished by, raising thbar as, 1... passible while in a.. Standing position, animen qu" klyrouhine undertbe'bar with the. lees and, 'arms ma 'berftpositiqn The bar in this psitioh is then raisedor pressed bygr'adually stretching out. the` arms legs, .until thebar is heldV above the. head with legsegnd. arms outstretched, It 'will be /observed thatwith-tli'e present. apparatus "an tstage.of,fsucl;1lift may -be repeatedly, practiced bydnitiajllyadjustingthe bar. at-,the desire-d pcsif tion.

Anotherimpo'rtant advantage of the present apparatus is Athat the athlete `is Apermitted-tostaij-t histraining; attire easiest. part l of the liftv by ad: Justine-theme11.*correspondingly and then by prov efessivelw adiustine. the bar 11e-.may gradually worleintolthe Inostdiilicult-.part of the lift; For example, in lifting the bar froml the floor teja sta-,rlding pcsition, the mostdifcult part. of the lift isili@Avr initial lifting-movement when the back is;v arched and. the legs bent, and, the :easiest part ofsuch lift iswhen standing. upright with the arms. at the isides. In. order toy practice this lift* the. usen may initially. adjust. the barwa. few inchesibelow the=h`ands-whenhe is in astanding position. Astrainingis. advancedtlie bar may. be pregressivzely,l lowered a few inches. each practice period; gradually approaching the most diflicult poitillV 0f the:Y lift.

Referring-.now tothedrawings, in general; the presentf exercising apparatus comprises a hori- Zoitalbar !-0-.connectedat each end toclamping units. l2, Illhaving provision for` clamping engagementwithspaced-vertical rodsi6; I8'. The rods are-supported at their lower ends-in base members 2li; 22-:respectvely, the base members having-provision for-detachably receiving one or more disc weights 24.

Ashereinisliown, each basev member A24S, @may comprise a` tubular` standard 2G secured at its lower end to a Wall 28 of the base member, the lower end of the standard extending through an opening in the wall and being attached thereto by opposed retaining plates 30 arranged to be received in a grooved portion 32 of the standard, the retaining members being secured to the underside of the wall 28 by screws 32, as clearly7 shown in Fig. 2. Rubber pads 35 may be secured to the underside of the annular rim portion 38 of the base member, as illustrated, in order to protect the floor and to cushion the blow when the unit is dropped. The lower ends of the vertical supporting rods I6, I8 are received in the upper ends of the tubular standards 26 and are secured thereto by set screws 430. The upper ends of the vertical rods may be extended in length by extension rods 42, 44 threadedly attached to the upper ends of the rods I6, I8 respectively, as shown. The vertical supporting rods I6, I8 may and preferably will be provided with graduation marks IS for use as a guide in adjusting the horizontal bar I!) thereon.

The disc weights 24, as herein shown, are provided with a central opening 45 arranged to t over the tubular standard 26 and are further provided with a radial slot 48 of a width to permit straddling of the vertical rods I6, I8 so that in operation the Weight may be iirst slipped over a rod I6, I8 and then dropped down over the standard 2G to rest on the upper edge of the annular rim portion 38. In order to provide a space for a iinger hold between successive disc weights for convenience in removing the weights, each weight as herein shown may be provided with circumferentially spaced pins 39 depending from the underside thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the horizontal bar Il! may be provided with knurled portions 5B intermediate its ends and with left and right hand threaded portions at opposite ends for threaded engagement with the clamping units I2, I4. Each clamping member may comprise a tubular member 52 internally threaded at one end to receive the end of the horizontal bar II) and is provided with an elongated slotted portion 54 formed at right angles to and through the tubular member 52 and which is arranged to receive the Vertical rods I6, I8. A curved clamping member 56 faced with brake lining 5S is also tted into the slotted portion 54, the clamping member being threadedly secured to one end of a plug member B0 slidingly fitted in the bore of the tubular member 52. The other end of the plug member GEI is provided with a metal insert 62, preferably of brass, for cooperation with a knob formed on the end of the horizontal bar II). With this construction it will be seen that by rotation of the horizontal bar lll in one direction, the clamping members 56 of each unit will be urged against one side of the vertical supporting rods I5, I8 to clamp them against the outer ends of the slotted portions 54 of each clamping unit I2, I4 thus simultaneously clamping the horizontal bar in the desired position of adjustment on the vertical supporting rods I6, I8 by virtue of the left and right hand threaded portions at opposed ends of the horizontal bar I0, and, conversely rotation of the bar Iii in the opposite direction will simultaneously unclamp the bar from the vertical rods. The bar may be maintained in its clamped position by thumb screws carried by the tubular members 52 and engageable with the ends of the bar IU, as illustrated. The bar Ill may be rotated into and out vof clamping position by hand, or, in order to l obtain more leverage, the bar I0 may be provided with a handwheel 64.

Provision may also be made for extending the horizontal bar Ill laterally beyond the vertical rods I6, I8 at each end for supporting additional weights if desired, or for use as a bar bell in the usual manner when detached from the supporting rods IS, I8. As herein shown, the outer end of each clamping unit I2, I ll may be provided with a shaft 66 extended and tightly iitted into the outer end of the bore of the tubular member 52 and may be secured thereto by a taper pin 68. A collar 'I0' may be tightly iitted over a turned down portion 0f the outer end of the tubular member 52 and a sleeve 'I2 may be rotatably mounted on the shaft 66, the sleeve being -retained on the shaft by a set screw 'Ill arranged to cooperate with a grooved portion 'IS of the shaft. In use, the disc weights 24 may be slipped over the ends of the Sleeves *I2 up against the collars l! and clamped thereto by a clamping collar 78. As herein shown, the clamping collar 'I3 may be of a quick clamping type split at 83 and having a slotted portion 84 to permit opposed half sections to yield and arranged to be clamped together at the split end by an arcuate member 86 having a radially extended pin 88 tted into a radial opening in one half section of the collar, and having a thumb screw 90 arranged to cooperate with an opening in the other half section 82 of the collar, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. When it is desired to use a standard disc weight 92 of the type having a smaller central opening, the sleeves 'I2 may be removed and the standard disc weights may be placed directly on the shafts 65 and clamped thereon by the usual clamping collars 913, as shown in Fig. 7. It will be understood that when used as an ordinary bar bell without the illustrated supporting structure the unit may be used either with or without the sleeves 'I2 using the appropriate disc Weights 2li, 92 respectively. It Will be observed that when the rotatable sleeve 'I2 is used, the discs 2d mounted thereon may rotate with the sleeve relative to the bar so that in use the bar may be rotated during the lifting movements without rotating the disc weights.

When the illustrated exercising apparatus is used for lifting exercises which require the bar to be placed across the necl; and shoulders or across the back, a detachable pad may be clamped to the horizontal bar lil as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. As therein shown, the pad may comprise a generally cylindrical wooden bar H30 longitudinally grooved to receive an angle bar |52 secured to the Wooden pad by screws I 04. One end of the angle bar is provided with a pin |06 arranged to t into an opening provided in the end of the adjacent clamping unit Ill, and, a quickly detachable clamp IEB may be provided adjacent the other end of the pad for securing the pad to the bar I9. As best shown in Figs. 9 and l0, the detachable clamp unit |98 may comprise an arm I IIJ pivoted on one side of the angle bar H32 arranged to cooperate with a rectangular arm I I2 upstanding from the other side of the angle bar. The pivoted arm IIB is slotted at its outer end to receive the upstanding arm H2, and the pivotal arm I IE! is further provided with a spring pressed locking pin IIIl arranged to cooperate with a grooved opening I I6 in the stationary arm II2 when the pivoted arm III) is rocked into locking position as shown in Fig. l0. A thumb screw III? carried by the arm III) may then be tightened against the horizontal bar .IIL

as shown, to securely clamp the pad in place. The angle bar |02 in addition to serving as a support for the pad and as a means for securing the unit to the bar IIJ, also serves as a strengthening bar to prevent bending of the bar I when very heavy weights are used.

From the above description it will be seen that the present exercising apparatus may be used with advantage for training in the use of a bar bell wherein the bar bell may be adjustably supported at different levels for practice in a particular portion or stage of the lift as desired and wherein the apparatus may be used with maximum safety to the user ln the event that the exercising unit should be dropped. It will also be observed that the present horizontal bar may be conveniently dismantled from the supporting structure for use as an ordinary bar bell if desired.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Athletic apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced vertical rods having provision at their lower ends for removably supporting Weight elements, and a horizontal bar extending between and adjustably secured to said vertical rods for vertical movement thereon, said horizontal bar extending laterally beyond said vertical rods and having means on said extending portion for supporting additional weight elements.

2. Athletic apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced vertical rods having provision at their lower ends for removably supporting weight elements, a horizontal bar extending between said vertical rods, clamping means connected at each end of said bar for adjustably securing the bar to the rods, each of said clamping means comprising a connecting member arranged to slidably receive a vertical rod and having an internally threaded portion arranged to receive one end of the bar, and a clamping piece carried by said connecting member and movable into clamping engagement with the rod upon rotation of the bar.

3. Athletic apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced vertical rods having provision at their lower ends for removably supporting weight elements, a horizontal bar extending between said vertical rods, clamping means connected at each end of said bar for adjustably securing the bar to the rods, each of said clamping means comprising a connecting member arranged to slidably receive a vertical rod therethrough an-d having an internally threaded portion arranged to receive one end of the bar, and a clamping piece carried by said connecting member and movable into clamping engagement with the rod upon rotation of the bar, said bar being oppositely threaded at each end whereby to eiect simultaneous clamping of each end of the bar to its respective rod.

4. Athletic apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced vertical rods having supporting base portions, means adjacent said base portions for removably supporting weight elements thereon, and a horizontal bar extending between and adjustably secured to said vertical rods, said horizontal bar extending laterally beyond said vertical rods, and sleeve members concentrically rotatably mounted on said extended ends for supporting additional weight elements.

5. A bar bell comprising a horizontal bar, sleeves concentrically rotatably mounted on each end of said bar, and a plurality of weight elements removably carried by and rotatable with said sleeves, whereby to permit rotation of said bar relative to said weights during the use of the bar bell.

6. Athletic apparatus for use in training in the art of weight lifting, comprising a pair of spaced vertical rods, and a horizontal bar extending between and adjustably secured to said vertical rods for vertical movement thereon, said vertical rods each being provided with a weight supporting member to which the lower end of the rod is secured in a position substantially centrally of the supporting member, said supporting members each being of a size and shape to provide a stable supporting means of substantial area for supporting the apparatus upon the floor and constituting means for removably supporting weight elements resting thereon and embracing the vertical rods, the space between said supports being unobstructed to enable the trainee to kneel upon the floor during use of the weight lifting apparatus.

ROOSEVELT W. W. HARVEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 187,477 Medart Feb. 20, 1877 399,632 Reach Mar, 12, 1889 934,850 Steel Sept. 21, 1909 955,135 Chlad Apr. 19, 1910 2,244,351 Venables June 3, 1941 

